Name ___________________________
Date _____________
Period____________
Glossary of Terms -- AP English Language and Composition: List Four
Digital Scavenger Hunt: Use your phone or other electronic device to find examples of the terms. Copy the
example below the definition.
These terms should be of use to you in answering the multiple choice questions and in composing your
essays. Keep this information handy at all times.
1. parody -- A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect
and/or ridicule. As comedy, parody distorts or exaggerates distinctive features of the original. As ridicule, it
mimics the work by repeating and borrowing words, phrases, or characteristics in order to illuminate
weaknesses in the original. Well-written parody offers enlightenment about the original, but poorly written
parody offers only ineffectual imitation. Usually an audience must grasp literary allusion and understand the
work being parodied in order to fully appreciate the nuances of the newer work. Occasionally, however,
parodies take on a life of their own and don't require knowledge of the original.
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2. pathos --(Emotional) means persuading by appealing to the reader's emotions. Language choice affects the
audience's emotional response, and emotional appeal can effectively be used to enhance an argument.
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3. pedantic -- An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or
bookish.
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4. periodic sentence -- A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. This independent
clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone. For example: "Ecstatic with my AP score, I let
out a loud, joyful shout.!" The effect of a periodic sentence is to add emphasis and structural variety. It is also a
much stronger sentence than the loose sentence.
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5. personification -- A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate
objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions. Personification is used to make these
abstractions, animals, or objects appear more vivid to the reader.
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6. point of view -- In literature, the perspective from which a story is told. There are two general divisions of point
of view and many subdivision within those. (1) the first person narrator tells the story with the first person
pronoun, "I," and is a character in the story. This narrator can be the protagonist, a participant (character in a
secondary role), or an observer (a character who merely watches the action). (2) the third person narrator
relates the events with the third person pronouns, "he," "she," and "it." There are two main subdivisions to be
aware of: omniscient and limited omniscient. In the "third person omniscient" point of view, the narrator, with
godlike knowledge, presents the thoughts and actions of any or all characters. This all-knowing narrator can
reveal what each character feels and thinks at any given moment. The "third person limited omniscient" point of
view, as its name implies, presents the feelings and thoughts of only one character, presenting only the actions
of all remaining characters. This definition applies in questions in the multiple-choice section. However on the
essay portion of the exam, the "point of view" carries an additional meaning. When you are asked to analyze the
author's point of view, the appropriate point for you to address is the author's attitude. [For a thorough
discussion of point of view, see Story and Structure, the text used by the seniors. In fact, you would be wise to
get a copy of it from the thrift store because the introductory sections are wonderful discussions of how
literature works.]
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7. predicate adjective -- One type of subject complement--an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause
that follows a linking verb. It is in the predicate of the sentence, and modifies, or describes, the subject.
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8. predicate nominative -- A second type of subject complement -- a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that
renames the subject. It, like the predicate adjective, follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the
sentence.
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9. prose -- One of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms . In
prose the printer determines the length of the line; in poetry, the poet determines the length of the line.
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10. repetition --The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word,
phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.
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11. rhetor—The speaker who uses elements of rhetoric effectively in oral or written test.
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12. rhetoric --From the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively,
eloquently, and persuasively.
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13. rhetorical modes -- This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major
kinds of writing. The four most common rhetorical modes and their purposes are as follows: (1) The purpose of
exposition (or expository writing) is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence,
and appropriate discussion. The AP language exam essay questions are frequently expository topics.. (2) The
purpose of argumentation is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning,
discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader. Persuasive writing is a type of argumentation
having an additional aim of urging some form of action. (3) The purpose of description is to re-create, invent, or
visually present a person, place, event, or action so that the reader can picture that being described. Sometimes
an author engages all five senses in description; good descriptive writing can be sensuous and picturesque.
Descriptive writing may be straightforward and objective or highly emotional and subjective. (4) The purpose of
narration is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events. This writing mode frequently uses the tools of
descriptive writing. These four writing modes are sometimes referred to as modes of discourse.
Give an example for each of the four rhetorical modes of writing:
Exposition:___________________________________________________________________________
Argumentation:_______________________________________________________________________
Descriptive:__________________________________________________________________________
Narration:___________________________________________________________________________
14. sarcasm -- From the Greek meaning "to tear flesh," sarcasm involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to
hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device, but not all ironic statements are sarcastic,
that is, intended to ridicule. When well done, sarcasm can be witty and insightful; when poorly done, it's simply
cruel.
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